The Romance of Tiger and Rose Episode 19 Recap
> The Romance of Tiger and Rose Recap
Chen Chuchu showed Han Shuo a map of the City Owner's Mansion defenses, outlining her plan: she would enter first to make arrangements, and in half an hour, he would bring his forces for a coordinated attack. She confidently stated that she would soon regain control of Huayuan City's City Guards. Han Shuo acknowledged her assistance, feeling empowered by her support. Moments later, Chen Qianqian arrived at Xingzi Mansion.
Chen Chuchu quickly hid Han Shuo before allowing Chen Qianqian to enter. Chen Qianqian immediately recognized one of the men as Han Shuo's guard, realizing he now worked for Chen Chuchu and had previously tried to harm her on Weimeng Mountain. The guard, in turn, declared Chen Qianqian unfit to rule Huayuan City. Chen Qianqian then directly confronted Chen Chuchu, accusing her of murdering Lu Peng.
Chen Chuchu denied it, attempting to shift the blame to Lin Qi and then back to Chen Qianqian herself, but Chen Qianqian remained firm, pointing out that Lu Peng had witnessed Chen Chuchu's argument with their mother, giving her a strong motive. Chen Chuchu then retorted that confining Han Shuo for life was crueler than killing him, dismissing him as a mere plaything for Chen Qianqian, who now had Pei Heng.
She even brought up rumors of constant revelry in Chen Qianqian's Yueli Mansion since Han Shuo's exile. Chen Qianqian, disgusted, declared that Chen Chuchu was the reason their mother had fallen ill. Han Shuo, who had been hiding and listening, concluded that he held no importance to Chen Qianqian. After the heated exchange, Chen Qianqian ordered her own guards to reinforce Chen Chuchu's confinement, ensuring no one could enter or leave Xingzi Mansion.
Following the confrontation, Chen Qianqian found herself in despair. She felt lost without a path home, lamenting the distorted storyline where the male lead was gone, the female lead had turned villainous, and supporting characters were sacrificed. She expressed frustration that despite her efforts to save Huayuan from Xuanhu's conquest, her own story had stalled. Later, outside her mansion, Pei Heng found a despondent Chen Qianqian drinking heavily.
He urged her to stop, suggesting she could pardon Han Shuo and recall him if she truly missed him, rather than punishing herself. Chen Qianqian explained that Han Shuo could never return to Xuanhu or Huayuan, blaming herself for everything and musing that if Lin Qi were still alive, there might have been a chance for her and Han Shuo to be together forever. Pei Heng offered to drink with her.
Drunk, Chen Qianqian mistook Pei Heng for Han Shuo, tearfully apologizing for lying about not loving him and expressing her heartfelt wish to be with him always. Han Shuo, who had secretly followed her and was watching from a distance, overheard her words and silently echoed her wish. Meanwhile, the City Owner, though awake, was still weak.
She expressed concern over Chen Qianqian's continuous visits to the Music and Dance Academy, attributing it to her being "love-stricken," and openly questioned if Chen Chuchu would be a more suitable heir. Despite Sang Qi's attempts to speak neutrally, the City Owner decided to reconsider her decision, stating that Chen Qianqian had shown little concern for the city or its people since Han Shuo's departure. She decided to lift Chen Chuchu's confinement, hoping she had matured.
However, a guard then reported that the city was besieged and the City Owner's Mansion was under attack. The City Owner quickly asked if Chen Qianqian had confiscated Chen Chuchu's flower token while she was in a coma. When Sang Qi confirmed that Chen Qianqian, considering their sisterly bond, had only confined Chen Chuchu and not taken the token, the City Owner became furious and spat blood.
Later, she was relieved to learn that Chen Qianqian was surrounded by Han Shuo's forces at Yueli Mansion, believing she would be safe in his hands. Back in Yueli Mansion, Chen Qianqian woke up from her drunken stupor, startled to find Han Shuo standing before her. She had just finished reading a letter from Meng Guo that vaguely described losing track of Han Shuo, making his sudden appearance even more shocking.
She tried to feign sleep, expressing a desire to sleep until "the end of the play." When she attempted to explain that her past actions were "for his own good," even she admitted it was unbelievable. A guard then loudly reported that Han Shuo had besieged the City Owner's Mansion, leading Chen Qianqian to realize he had taken over the city.
Han Shuo recounted his painful exile, stating he would have forgiven her for any sadness, but all he saw was her acting happy. Chen Qianqian insisted she was truly sad and had been feigning happiness. Han Shuo then presented her with a "gift": ten bottles, one containing a potent poison called "Soul Missing Powder." He forced her to choose one to drink daily, threatening her mother's life if she refused.
Hoping to die and return to her own world, Chen Qianqian chose a bottle, but it turned out to be bitter melon juice. Han Shuo then ordered Bai Ji to confine her to Yueli Mansion. Chen Qianqian lamented that despite her efforts to prevent Xuanhu from conquering Huayuan, the situation had unfolded regardless, leaving her questioning the purpose of her struggles. Amidst the chaos, the city gates were shut, trapping everyone inside.
Su Mu, who had been attempting to leave Huayuan, found himself caught in the lockdown. Upon hearing that Risheng Mansion was surrounded by Xuanhu soldiers, he immediately rushed back to find Chen Yuanyuan. He found her in her ruined home, seemingly preparing a will. He saved her from falling debris, sustaining an injury in the process. Chen Yuanyuan initially pushed him away, reminding him of his earlier confession that he did not love her.
Su Mu, however, declared his changed heart, expressing that his feelings for her were real, especially in such a dire situation, and swore to stay with her until death. Chen Yuanyuan worried about implicating him further but acknowledged that they were now like "a couple on the run." They shared a quiet moment over a preserved drawing bearing the words "To win someone's heart."
Meanwhile, Chen Chuchu, feigning filial concern, reported to her mother, falsely claiming that Han Shuo had viciously attacked Huayuan City after being humiliated by Chen Qianqian. She reassured her mother that she had secured the mansion, earning the City Owner's praise. In the council hall, Zi Zhu, acting under Chen Chuchu's instruction, read a decree stating the City Owner was unwell and had appointed Chen Chuchu to "act in the City Owner's stead."
When an official protested, arguing the Crown Princess should be the one to fill in, Chen Chuchu immediately ordered him to be taken away. She then silenced other dissenting officials and had them removed. Soon after, Pei Heng burst into Chen Chuchu's mansion, urging her to repent. He questioned why Han Shuo had returned and whose guards had truly besieged the City Owner's Mansion, implying her complicity.
Chen Chuchu, unmoved, dismissed his concerns, stating that her desire to obtain what was rightfully hers was merely a "matter of time." She disrespectfully implied that her only reason for acknowledging him was out of respect for his late father. Nearby, one of her aides commented on Han Shuo's apparent unease when seeing Pei Heng, suggesting Han Shuo still harbored feelings for Chen Qianqian, and noting that Pei Heng's actions would only further infuriate him.
Despite warnings from his guard about the futility of his actions, Pei Heng decided to confront Han Shuo at Yueli Mansion to rescue Chen Qianqian. He accused Han Shuo of hurting Chen Qianqian and of being unworthy of her affection, reminding him that they were divorced and he intended to take her away. Han Shuo, enraged, brutally attacked Pei Heng, asserting that Huayuan City's rules of divorce held no sway, and that only Xuanhu City's rules mattered.
He declared Chen Qianqian his wife and that she would "stay with me forever." Pei Heng collapsed, coughing blood. Chen Qianqian rushed out to his side, asking if he was alright. Han Shuo, consumed by jealousy, roughly grabbed Chen Qianqian and carried her back into the room, ignoring her struggles and Pei Heng's pleas. Inside the room, Han Shuo confronted Chen Qianqian, accusing her and Pei Heng of mutual affection.
Chen Qianqian, terrified, pleaded with him to stop, declaring that while she once loved, respected, and cherished him, he was now "unworthy." Han Shuo, defiant, scoffed at her warning that force would not yield agreeable results. As he attempted to force intimacy, Chen Qianqian screamed for help and slapped him. Disturbed by her cries and obvious terror, Han Shuo stopped, calling her a "spoilsport."
He then confirmed that she truly had lost her martial arts skills, realizing she rarely spoke the truth, and began to question his own harsh actions. Still outside in the rain, Pei Heng continued to call Han Shuo a "beast" and begged him to release Chen Qianqian. Han Shuo emerged to tell Pei Heng to give up, warning him against any further attempts to "steal my wife," then ordered his men to escort Pei Heng home.
As he was being led away, Pei Heng vowed he would not give up on Chen Qianqian. Bai Ji tried to prod Han Shuo, commenting on how quickly his anger softened for Chen Qianqian, and offered to "help." Han Shuo angrily dismissed him, then, distrusting Chen Chuchu, ordered Bai Ji to replace all existing guards with their own Xuanhu soldiers, following the city defense map.
Zi Rui, finding Chen Qianqian still distressed, suggested she "give in" to Han Shuo to end the siege, portraying it as a mutually beneficial outcome. He warned that if she continued to resist and infuriate Han Shuo, Chen Chuchu might become the City Owner, leaving them unprotected. Chen Qianqian expressed concern about Han Shuo, calling him an "an-eye-for-an-eye demon."
Zi Rui then confirmed that Chen Chuchu was indeed expected to become City Owner, citing an official decree read in the council hall. Chen Qianqian realized that the plot was "getting back to the plot," indicating a path home for her, but worried about Han Shuo's fate, as the original storyline dictated his death shortly after Chen Chuchu ascended to power. Determined, she resolved not to let Chen Chuchu become City Owner.
Later, Bai Ji brought Chen Qianqian five bottles, telling her Han Shuo found it "funnier" to reduce the number of choices from the previous day's ten. Frustrated, Chen Qianqian called Han Shuo an "obstacle on my way home" and decided to "counter-attack." She dramatically mixed all five bottles (which contained an assortment of mundane liquids like soy sauce, vinegar, and onion juice) and drank the concoction, then began to fake excruciating stomach pain, loudly calling for her sister, Yuanyuan.
Han Shuo, seeing through her ruse, mocked her, stating that he drank the same concoction without issue. He refused her pleas to see Yuanyuan or her mother, correctly deducing her intention to use the pretense to escape. He coldly told her to endure the pain if she didn't want a doctor, then left, instructing her to "stay here" and "don't think about escaping."
Chen Qianqian, still feigning pain, lamented how Han Shuo treated her despite her missing him while he was away. At that moment, Bai Ji announced that a group of musicians had arrived, claiming Chen Qianqian used to invite them "every few days" and missed her. Han Shuo, further angered by this apparent confirmation of her indifference, sarcastically allowed them in to "entertain" her, implying she sought to escape to see them.
Among the musicians was a disguised Pei Heng, who revealed he had come to rescue her. Recognizing the opportunity, Zi Rui quickly and loudly ordered Bai Ji to prepare a ridiculously long list of elaborate dishes for Chen Qianqian, effectively distracting Bai Ji and sending him scurrying off to the kitchens. Chen Qianqian praised Zi Rui's quick thinking and Bai Ji's gullibility.
Zi Rui updated her that the City Owner, Chen Yuanyuan, and Su Mu were under house arrest but were currently safe. Chen Qianqian thanked Pei Heng for his disguise. Pei Heng, in turn, confessed that while he once considered it shameful to please women, he now found it fulfilling to help and bring joy to the woman he loved.
Chen Qianqian, despite the urgency, asked if Han Shuo had troubled him again, then defended Han Shuo, claiming she was to blame for pushing him to this point. Before she could elaborate, a butler interrupted them.
